Retaining means for furnace wall blocks



April 12, 193-8. E. G. BAILEY ET AL RETAINING MEANS FOR FURNACE WALL BLOCKS Original Filed Oct. 20, 1927 INVENTQRS V117 G. 5a!

[65/ Hardyrolre ORNEY Fa] p11 M 5% El R T 14-7 ones.

Patented Apr. '12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETAINING MEANS FOR FURNACE WALL BLOCKS sey Original application October 20, 1927, Serial No. 227,456. Divided and this application July 17, 1931, Serial No. 551,337

34 Claims.

Our invention relates to furnace temperature control, especially furnace walls adapted to facilitate furnace temperature control, and more particularly furnace wall blocks and means for retaining said blocks in firm contact with spaced elements of the wall.

The present application is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 227,456, for Devices for retaining furnace wall blocks against tubes. filed October 20, 1927.

Oneobject of the invention is to provide means which will retain the tile orblocks composing the inner surface or a part of the inner surface of a furnace wall, firmly in contact with spaced elements, for instancewater tubes, in the wall. Another object is to provide an attachment for such tile or blocks which will enable an effective heat contact to be maintained between the tile and the tubes. A further object is the provision of such means in a form which will permit broken or injured tile to be removed and replaced by new Other objects will appear upon further consideration of the present specification.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a part of a furnace wall constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the furnace wall illustrated in Figure 1, as viewed from the left in the drawing,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a part of another type of furnace wall constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 4 is an elevation of Fig. 3 as viewed from the left in the drawing, and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a part of still another type of furnace wall constructed in accordance with the invention.

The invention may be said to comprise a furnace wall formed by spaced elements and tile having a portion extending between the spaced elements, together with means acting to press the tile against the spaced elements. It is to be understood that where the word tile is used in the specification and claims, it is used in'the broadest and most inclusive sense, and embraces among other constructions, blocks which may be composed entirely of refractory or entirely of metal, .or which may be of composite construction, being made of metal and refractory.

In the drawing there is shown a part of a furnace wall in which spaced elements in the form of vertical water tubes ID form the skeleton of the wall, and are covered with tile ll. Each tile H has a portion l2 extending between two tubes. The tile extend over the inner portions of the tubes l and provide the inner surface of the furnace wall. Thus a refractory wall may be provided which is cooled by means of water tubes to which the tile or refractory elements are attached. The portions l2 of the tile H which extend between two tubes l0 may extend beyond the plane through the axes of the tubes.

Means are provided bearing against the projection I2 on each tile I l to press the tile against the tube. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tile is L-shaped and two tile H, II bear against each other, (although, of course, they need not bear directly upon each other) each having a portion l2 extending between adjacent tubes. It will be observed that in Figure 1 in the plan view shown, the two tile II, I I contact with one another in a line perpendicular to the plane through the axes of the tubes, and equally spaced from each tube. It will also be seen that the adjacent faces of the two contacting tile are formed with an arc-shaped curve near the faces on the furnace side, and that these curves are tangent to planes which are divergent in two adjacent tile on the outer side wall. When in position, the

'two contacting tile bear upon each other with their arc-shaped faces so that line contact between the blocks is established.

Each of the tile ll thus provides a fulcrum about which the other rocks, and when in place the tile therefore rock about a common fulcrum, which is their line of contact with one another. Clearly, a separate physical common fulcrum might be provided.

The contiguous faces of the tile are so shaped that they leave an opening or recess l3 between their ends, and into this opening or recess is forced a member for retaining the two tile firmly in contact with the water tubes. As here shown,- there is provided a resilient U-shaped member M. The U-shaped member, because of its resiliency, tends to straighten, and thus to force apart the extending portions l2 of the tile. Thus, means are provided which tend to rotate each tile about the center line of the adjacent water tube. It may be here remarked that the construction is such that temperature changes do not affect the resiliency of the contact. The tile, contacting as at l, tend to fit the tubes I0 snugly and to be held against them by reason of the force exerted by the U-shaped member l4. Each tile contacts with thev adjacent tube in an arc which is greater than 90 of the tube circumference, and thereby provides improved heat conducting area between the tile and the tubes in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In order to remove the tile from the wall, that is to say, from its position between the tubes, the U-shaped member [4 must first be withdrawn from its position between two adjacent tile. The tile to be removed is then rotated through a small are about the tube until it does not contact with the tube outside of the plane through the axes of the tubes. Such rotation is made possible by the shape of the adjacent faces of two contacting tile which has already been described. The tile to be removed may then be withdrawn by pulling it into the furnace.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 shows but a single tile Ii which lies between adjacent tubes l0, l0, and the portion l2 extending between the tubes is narrowed as at i6 and expanded again as at H, in order that a resilient member l8 may fit over the extension and bear upon this part of the tile II and also upon the two water tubes l0, Hi. The resiliency of the member l8 causes it to bear upon the tubes and the tile, thus forcing the tile closely against the tubes. It will be seen that both the U-shaped member l4 and the resilient member l8 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 exert a force on the extending portion of the tile to keep the latter in contact with the tubes.

The form illustrated in Fig. 5 is a construction in which the portion of the tile ll between the tubes, does not extend beyond the center line of the tubes. The means l9 bearing against the projection l2 to press the tile against the tube, is shown as being resilient in character and of a somewhat different form from the corresponding elements illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that means has been provided which will retain the tile or blocks composing the inner surface or part of the inner surface of the furnace wall, firmly in contact with spaced elements which form the skeleton of the wall. The resilient members l4, l8 and I9 illustrate attachments which are provided by the invention which enable an effective heat contact to be maintained between the tile and the tubes. It will also be evident that in .he event of a tile being broken it may be removed and replaced by a new one with convenience and ease. v

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention the force pressing the tile or blocks against the tubes is maintained or actually increased as furnace temperatures rise. With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tile II will so expand that they will have a rotating or pivotal action about the tubes and this action will compress the springs II. The latter therefore will cause the tile to exert greater forces against the tubes.

With reference to the operation of the embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 a similar change takes place as the furnace is brought to a. normal operating condition. The tile and the'tubes expand in such a way that the wedge-shaped spring parts are compressed and this compression causes the springs to exert greater forces pressing the tile against the tubes. The springs then exert forces against oblique tile surfaces forming the spring seats. These forces may be considered as exerted in an oblique (with reference to the furnace face) direction, and such forces have components normal to the furnace face, representing the force of the furnace face parts of the tile against the tubes directly behind them.

Other forms of the invention varying in detail but not in principle from those here illustrated by way of example will readily suggest themselves to those dealing with the problem of retaining furnace wall blocks in place. With this understanding, therefore,

We claim:

1. In a furnace wall, spaced elements, tile having portions extending between said elements, the facing surfaces of adjoining tile between successive elements being non-parallel, and springs resiliently gripping said extending portions and exerting a force to keep said tile in contact with said elements, said springs forming substantially V-shaped parts with their apical portions inserted in correspondingly shaped and outwardly opening recesses in the wall by movement in a direction normal to the face of the wall after the co-acting tile are in their operative positions, the springs being held under stress and in temporarily deformed condition while they are positioned within the recesses.

2. In a furnace wall, spaced elements, tile each having a portion between said elements extending beyond the center line thereof, and resilient means embracing said portion and exerting a force to keep said tile in contact with said elements.

3. In a furnace wall, water tubes, tile having portions between said tubes extending beyond the center line thereof and arranged so as to cause wedge-shaped recesses to be presented opening toward the outer face of the wall, and

wedge-shaped resilient means with their apical portions extending into said recesses and exerting a force on said extending portions to keep said tile in contact with said tubes, the resilient means being applicable to the wall after the tile are all placed in their operative positions.

4. In a furnace wall, water tubes, tile each having a portion extending between said tubes, and U-shaped resilient means exerting a force parallel to the plane of the wall on said extending portions to keep said tile in contact with said tubes, the resilient means being held in operative relation to said extending portions by reason of pressure exerted by said means.

5. In a furnace wall, spaced elements forming the skeleton structure of the wall, tile providing a wall surface on the furnace interior side of said spaced elements, said tile having projections extending between said spaced elements and arranged to present spring receiving recesses opening toward the outer face of the wall, and spring members bearing against and frictionally gripping the projections on said tile to press said tile against said elements, said members being held in their operative positions by their gripping action. 1

6. In a furnace wall, spaced elements forming the skeleton structure of the wall, tile providing a wall surface on the furnace interior side of said spaced elements, said tile having projections extending between said spaced elements, and spreaders bearing against the projections on said tile to press said tile against the spaced elements.

7. In a furnace wall, spaced elements forming the skeleton structure of the wall, pairs of tile providing a wall surface on the furnace interior side of said spaced elements, said tile having projections extending between said spaced elements and beyond the plane of their center lines, and a spreader acting upon the projections and tending to rotate the tile about the center line of the adjacent spaced elements, the spreader being positioned on the side of said plane opposite the wall surface.

8. In a furnace wall, water tubes forming the skeleton structure of the wall, pairs of tile providing a wall surface on the furnace interior side of said water tubes, said tile having projections extending between said water tubes and beyond the plane of their center lines, and spreaders reacting against the projections and tending to rotate each tile about the center line of the adjacent water tube, said spreaders being also located beyond said plane.

9. In a furnace wall, spaced elements forming the skeleton structure of the wall, two L-shaped tile between each pair of spaced elements providing a wall surface on the furnace interior side of said spaced elements, each of said tile having.

a projection extending between said spaced elements, the two tile contacting in a line equally distant from each tube and positioned outwardly of the wall from said surface, and a spreader bearing against the projections on adjacent tile to press said tile against the spaced elements.

10. In a furnace wall, water tubes forming the skeleton structure of the wall, two Lshaped tile between adjacent tubes providing a wall surface on the furnace interior side of said water tubes, each of said tile having a projection extending between said tubes and beyond the plane of their center lines, the two tile exerting a force upon each other on the furnace side of the center line of the water tubes, and a spring interposed relative to the projections on adjacent tile between the same tubes and bearing against those projections at a position beyond said plane to press the tile against the tubes.

11. In a furnace wall, spaced water tubes, pairs of abutting L-shaped tile between adjacent tubes, each tile having a portion extending between sai tubes to a position beyond the plane of their center lines and contacting with the adjacent tube in an are which is greater than 90 of the tube circumference, and resilient means exerting a force on said extending portions also at a position beyond said plane to keep said tile in contact with said tubes.

12. In a furnace wall, spaced water tubes, pairs of abutting L-shaped tile between adjacent tubes, each tile having a portion extending between said tubes to a position beyond the plane of their center lines and contacting with the adjacent tube along an are which is greater than 90 of the tube circumference, and resilient spreaders exerting a force tending to separate the ends of the tile portions extending between two tubes to keep said tile in contact with said tubes, substantially as described.

13. The combination with spaced tubes, of a block unit mounted thereon and therebetween comprising two block members, said members having curved tube recesses and curved contacting surfaces opposite said recesses and eccentric with respect thereto and said block members having projections, and spreading means acting against said projections to wedge the block unit by cam action of the eccentric contacting surfaces.

14. The combination with spaced tubes, of

block members mounted thereon and therebetween having curved tube recesses and curved contacting surfaces opposite said recesses and eccentric with respect thereto, and said block members having projections, and spreading means acting on said members in groups and against the projections thereto to wedge the members by cam action of the eccentric contacting surfaces.

15. A structure of the character set forth comprising a two-part block unit, each part having a lateral curved tube engaging surface and an opposite surface eccentric with respect to said tube engaging surface and adapted to contact the eccentric surface of the other part and means for mounting the block unit operative to produce pressure between the eccentric surfaces.

16. The combination with spaced tubes, of a block unit mounted thereon and therebetween comprising two block members, said members having curved tube recesses and non-parallel contacting surfaces opposite said recesses, projections on the block members, and a spreader acting against said projections to wedge the block unit by cam action of the contacting surfaces, the wedging action causingthe block members to be pressed against the tubes.

17. The combination with spaced tubes, of block members mounted thereon and therebetween having curved tube recesses and non-parallel contacting surfaces opposite said recesses, proj ecticns on said block members and a spreader acting on said members in groups and against the projections thereto to wedge the members by cam action of the contacting surfaces, the Wedging action causing the block members to be pressed tightly against the tubes.

18, A structure of the character set forth com prising, spaced tubes, a two-part block unit, each part having a lateral curved tube receiving recess and an opposite surface of different characteristics adapted to contact the similar surface of the other part, and a spreader for mounting the block unit operative to produce pressure between the block parts and the tubes.

19. In a furnace wall, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting inner parts forming a furnace face and having extensions positioned between the tubes, tube receiving portions formed as recesses in the blocks, wedging portions opposite the recesses in the blocks, and pressure applying means reacting against the extensions to set up a wedging action involving said wedging portions and causing the blocks to be pressed against the tubes.

20. In a furnace wall, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting inner parts forming a furnace face and having extensions positioned between the tubes, tube receiving portions formed as recesses in the blocks, wedging, portions opposite the recesses in the blocks, and pressure applying means reacting against the extensions to set up a wedging action involving said wedging portions and causing the blocks to be pressed against the tubes, each of said tubes having a row of blocks on each of two sides thereof.

21. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving portions, each block having opposite its recess a surface which has' contour characteristics different from those of the recess, and means acting upon the blocks to cause the individual ing upon the blocks to cause them to have opposite pivotal actions relative to each other to press them into their operative positions against the tubes.

23. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving .portions, each block having opposite its recess a surface which has characteristics different from that of the recess, each block having good thermal relation-to a tube over a tube surface bounded by two radial planes at an angle to each other of less than 180, and means acting upon pairs of said blocks to cause them to exert pressure on the tubes in the directions of said planes and toward the centers of the adjacent tubes while still maintaining the blocks in such positions that their inner ends form a substantially flat furnace face.

24. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving portions, each block having opposite its recess asurface which has characteristics different from that of the recess, and means acting upon the-outer ends of each of the blocks of a pair to tend to cause rotation of the blocks around the tubes in such a way as to'press the blocks toward the tubes.

25. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving portions, each block having opposite its recess a surface which has characteristics different from that of the recess, the block parts having said surfaces opposite the recesses being adapted to exert pressure towards each other to limit rotation of the blocks around the tubes and to cause the blocks to be pressed against the tubes.

26. Incombination, spaced tubes, block members mounted on the tubes between them and having curved tube recesses and non-parallel wedging surfaces opposite said recesses, the in ner ends of the blocks being adapted to form the fiat face of a furnace wall, each tube receiving recess part adapted to be in good thermal relation to a tube over an extent of the tube surface of the order of 90 of the circumference of the tube, and means operative on the blocks from a position outwardly of the tubes to press the blocks apart and toward the tubes.

27. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving portions, each block having opposite its recess side a bearing surface, and means acting upon the blocks to cause pairs of them to mutually exert pressure toward each other at positions forwardly of the center lines of the tubes, the bearing surfaces of adjacent blocks being nonparallel.

28. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, wall blocks presenting fiat-furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving portions, each block also having a pressure surface opposite its recess side, and means acting upon the blocks to cause pairs of them to mutually exert pressure toward each other at said pressure surfaces to cause the blocks to be pressed tightly against the tubes.

29. In a furnace wall, spaced wall cooling tubes, pairs of oppositely arranged coacting wedge blocks positioned between the tubes and having fiat furnace face portions adjacent facing pressure transmitting portions, and means exerting pressure on the blocks of a pair to cause the blocks in turn to be pressed toward the adjacent tubes, said blocks and means being so shaped and arranged that normal furnace operation tends to increase the pressure exerted by the blocks against the tubes.

30., In a furnace Wall, spaced wall cooling tubes, pairs of co-acting and oppositely arranged closure members mounted upon the tubes with the opposite outer faces of each pair facing separate tubes and the opposing internal faces of each pair being non-parallel, and resilient com-' pression devices exerting forces on the blocks along the wall to cause the closure members to be resiliently clamped on and pressed toward the tubes.

31. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, spaced cooling tubes, metallic wall blocks presentingflat furnace face portions at their inner ends and having extensions positioned between the tubes, said blocks being formed with recesses constituting tube receiving portions, each block having a pressure surface opposite its recess side, each block also having good thermal relationship to a tube over a tube segment bounded by two radial planes at an angle to each other of less than 180, and separate pressure means acting upon separate pairs of said blocks to cause them to exert pressure on the tubes in the directions of said planes and toward the centers of the tubes while still maintaining the blocks in such position that their inner ends form a substantially flat furnace face, the flat furnace portions of the blocks constituting the highest temperature metal during normal furnace operation and therefore expanding more than the remainder of the blocks whereby furnace operation causes a further pressing of the blocks towards the tubes to enhance said thermal relationship.

32. A furnace wall structure, comprising a fluidcirculating conduit, a protective refractory coating thereover, and means constantly forcing said coating and said conduit into intimate contact with one another, wherein the said forcing is not substantially diminished by thermal expansion of the members comprising the wall, as the wall is heated.

33. In the operation of furnaces having fluid cooled walls composed of fluid circulating conduits and refractory blocks thereover, the method of increasing the mechanical stability of said wall and improving the transmission of heat to said conduits which comprises continuously urging said blocks and conduits into closer juxtaposition and maintaining the pressure of blocks against conduits substantially undiminished as the wall is heated 34. A furnace wall structure, comprising, in

combination, a fluid circulatingconduit, a protective refractory coating in the form of tile positioned over the furnace side of the tube, and

means constantly forcing said coating and said conduit into intimate contact with one another wherein the said forcing is not substantially diminished by thermal expansion of the wall mem bers as the wall is heated.

ERVIN G. BAILEY. RALPH M. HARDGROVE. 

